Dave and I had seen wiry, little sheepdogs herd bulky gobs of sheep, but we had never seen dogs do high jumps and broad jumps to get a bone. We saw both on September 7, 2015--Labor Day--at the International Sheepdog Championships in Soldier Hollow. Even better, we shared the experience with Heidi's family, the Bastians.
Fifteen teams of sheepdogs and sheep herders from all over the world competed at the International Sheepdog Championships. Their task was to bring two groups of sheep (eight sheep each) down a mountainside, through several gates, into a "sheep ring." They then separated out all but five sheep with red collars (from many sheep without collars) and herded those five special sheep into a pen. It was amazing to watch the dog and herder work together, through calls and whistles, to complete the job, fast and efficiently.
The Bastians invited us to join them at the sheepdog event, and they brought all the gear--chairs, umbrellas, and a great lunch of homemade bread, meats and cheeses, grapes, and cookbook perfect chocolate chip and gingersnap cookies. We brought the lemonade, cameras, and curiosity.
Mike and Heidi relaxed next to Marissa, Bevan, Gay, and Kelvyn.
The Bastians are talented and hard working. Heidi's sister, Marissa, has a master's degree in food science, and now is completing another degree in fashion design.
Heidi's sister, Jessica, is a graduate in chemistry who now breeds her own heirloom seeds. She and husband, Josh, are concerned about "sustainability" and are looking for their own farm from where Josh will also do computer programing remotely. Heidi's sister, Calise, is still in high school, but she is already finishing a cosmetology course.
We took a break from the sheepdog championships to watch the splash dog championships. The world champions can leap nearly 7 feet high and jump 28 feet long.
There was a "midway" with many shops and demonstrations. Native American elders displayed their weaving, and refugees from Rwanda showed the goats that they are raising for meat. "Many Africans living in Utah can't get good goat meat," one refugee told me, as he stood next to his goat pen.
We got met one of the splash dog contestants. His owner wore a tee shirt that said, "Don't judge my Rottweiler."
Sam recuperated from the sun and excitement with a cheese sandwich.
When we left, in the early afternoon, Sam took with him two of the Bastians' great gingersnap cookies.
As we drove home, Sam bore all the marks of a perfect day--an entrance stamp on his hand, cookie crumbs around his mouth, and his dad's iPad.
He was asleep as soon as we turned on the engine.
One more icon as we drove home--a picturesque barn in Park City, draped with the flag.
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